Chapter I: Front Matter

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

Exponents are denoted by ^ so for example 4^2 indicates 4 squared.

For consistency and clarity, a space (when absent) has been placed
between the number and the unit of weight lb. and lbs. giving
for example '21 lbs.' in place of '21lbs.'

Fractions, usually in the form '14 3-4' in the original text,
have been converted to the form '14-3/4' in this etext.

Fractions in all tables have been converted to Unicode ½ ¼ ¾ ⅓ etc.,
for clarity and to conserve space in larger tables. A few tables
have non-Unicode fractions which remain in the form 1-7/12.

Also, in a few larger tables with italic styling on some text, this
italic styling has been removed, for clarity and to conserve space.
In a few cases a word has been abbreviated to conserve table space:
cal. = caliber; diam. = diameter.

Some instances of _Tome_ in French citations have been changed
to Tome (no italic), for consistency.

Some accents and spelling in French citations have been corrected.

For consistency, instances of 'fireworks' and 'fire works' have
been changed to the predominant form 'fire-works'.

Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been
corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within
the text and consultation of external sources.

More detail can be found at the end of the book.

A

SYSTEM OF PYROTECHNY,

COMPREHENDING THE THEORY AND PRACTICE, WITH THE
APPLICATION OF CHEMISTRY;

DESIGNED FOR EXHIBITION AND FOR WAR.

_IN FOUR PARTS_:

CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE SUBSTANCES USED IN FIRE-WORKS;
THE INSTRUMENTS, UTENSILS, AND MANIPULATIONS; FIRE-WORKS
FOR EXHIBITION; AND MILITARY PYROTECHNY.

ADAPTED TO THE

MILITARY AND NAVAL OFFICER, THE MAN OF SCIENCE
AND ARTIFICER.

_BY JAMES CUTBUSH, A. S. U. S. A._

LATE ACTING PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY AND MINERALOGY, IN THE UNITED
STATES' MILITARY ACADEMY--MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL
SOCIETY--CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE COLUMBIAN INSTITUTE--MEMBER
OF THE LINNÆAN AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES OF PHILADELPHIA--LATE
PRESIDENT OF THE COLUMBIAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF
THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF A RATIONAL SYSTEM OF EDUCATION,
&C. &C. &C.

PHILADELPHIA:
PUBLISHED BY CLARA F. CUTBUSH.
1825.

EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA, to wit:

BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the ninth day of February, in the forty-ninth year of the independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1825, CLARA F. CUTBUSH, of the said district, hath deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof she claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit:

_A System of Pyrotechny, comprehending the Theory and Practice,
with the application of Chemistry; designed for Exhibition and
for War. In four parts: containing an account of the Substances
used in Fire-Works; the Instruments, Utensils, and Manipulations;
Fire-Works for Exhibition; and Military Pyrotechny. Adapted to the
Military and Naval Officer, the Man of Science, and Artificer. By
James Cutbush, A. S. U. S. A. late Acting Professor of Chemistry
and Mineralogy in the United States' Military Academy--Member
of the American Philosophical Society--Corresponding Member of
the Columbian Institute--Member of the Linnæan and Agricultural
Societies of Philadelphia--late President of the Columbian Chemical
Society, and Vice-President of the Society for the Promotion of a
Rational System of Education, &c. &c. &c._

In conformity to the act of the congress of the United States, intituled "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned."--And also to the act, entitled, "An act supplementary to an act, entitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned," and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."

D. CALDWELL,

_Clerk of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania_.

_To the Corps of Cadets, of the United States' Military Academy, West Point_;

GENTLEMEN,

To you, a scientific and distinguished Corps, this work on Pyrotechny is respectfully dedicated. Your liberal subscription first encouraged me to undertake its publication; for which, accept my grateful thanks.

CLARA F. CUTBUSH.

ADVERTISEMENT.

In submitting the present work to the public, it may be proper to state some of the difficulties, under which it has been published, and to bespeak an indulgent allowance for any imperfections, which may be observed in the style or arrangement. As a posthumous work, it has been deprived of those final improvements and emendations, which are generally made by Authors, while their works are in progress of publication. While, however, the work has laboured under these disadvantages, the publisher has felt it her duty to make every arrangement, to supply, as far as possible, the want of the author's personal superintendence of the publication. This course was due to the scientific reputation of her late husband, as well as to the numerous and generous patrons of the work.

_Philadelphia, April, 1825._

TABLE OF CONTENTS.